Recently I asked a colleague how an acquaintance of mine was doing who is a member of his church.   He commented how this man and his family are a real asset to the local church and that it’s great to have some gifted people around that the church can draw on.   However those encouraging words were followed by a ‘but’.   My colleague commented, “But the sad thing is that we see them in church, on average, only every other Sunday”.   When I asked what the reason for that might be his comment was cryptic but telling, “Too many toys!”

That’s a sad story that I can relate to.   I can relate to it personally because I find that my hobbies and interests often become a distraction that take me away from the things that are really important.   I write this at the end of a week when I’ve just switched all my personal data and my church and ministry stuff from an old computer onto a new one.   Okay, that’s work related, but in the process I realised just how many photography, music and video files I’ve accumulated over the years and the hours that have gone into that.

I can relate to the comment because as a pastor I’ve seen the problem in some of my parishioners.   A weekend in the hills on trail bikes is followed a weekend at the coast on jet skis – and church-going doesn’t make it onto the agenda.   For others it’s the holiday cottage that keeps the family away from their church and some ‘grey nomads’ are away with their caravans more often during the year than they are at their local church.   Too many toys!

There’s a saying that has become a truism for our generation: we worship our work, we work at our play and we play at our worship.   Our entertainment is taken with the utmost seriousness.   Of course there is another (older) truism, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy!”   The workaholic needs to take note of that.   But the problem is that today there are probably far more ‘play-aholics’ than there are workaholics and meanwhile there is a growing shortage of worship-aholics.

Apart from depriving God of the praise that is due to Him and depriving their local church community of the blessing of their fellowship there are a couple of other concerns that I have about this problem of too many toys.

First there is the matter of priority and perspectives.   On the day when we come to stand before the great white throne, not too many of us will wish that we had done more trail bike riding in this life.   On that day when I will be asked for an accounting of my life then all my computer files and my preoccupation with technological toys is not going to earn a “Well done good and faithful servant!” commendation from the Master.   In fact, one of the scary things about the parable Jesus once told about the rich man and Lazarus is that the rich man was told, “Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things.”

Secondly there is the concern that when (‘when’ not ‘if’) the tough times come, then those who work at their play are going to find it tougher to handle their trials.   Our only comfort in life and death is not derived from the pleasure of weekends away with the jet skis.   It’s those who have been training themselves week by week in the things of God and the worship of His name who will have the resilience to cope with hardship.

John Westendorp